Glasgow School of Art campus opens

The Glasgow School of Art’s new campus in Moray has been formally opened.
The Highlands and Islands Creative Campus is a postgraduate research centre. It was established following the £2.5 million renovation of Blairs Steading by Altyre Estate near Forres.

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The Highlands and Islands Creative Campus is a postgraduate research centre. It was established following the £2.5 million renovation of Blairs Steading by Altyre Estate near Forres.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) supported the development with a £750,000 investment. A further £500,000 came from Historic Environment Scotland.

The A-listed 1830’s Italianate buildings were fully restored externally and internally into a world class research and teaching facility with state of the art studios and learning spaces.

The three largest buildings form a horseshoe shaped campus of interconnected teaching spaces and studios for research staff and postgraduate students. It also includes a large flexible exhibition/project area.

High speed broadband connectivity links the campus with the main GSA campus in Glasgow and internationally.

The formal opening took place in January during the GSA’s Winter School. International design experts, researchers and students attending were joined at the launch by local politicians, businesses and community leaders.

The Highlands and Islands Creative Campus is the main base of the GSA’s Institute of Design Innovation (InDI) - one of its key research centres.

Two key areas of work being led by InDI are the GSA’s contribution to the Digital Health and Care Institute and the Creative Futures Partnership, a pioneering collaboration between the GSA and HIE.

Charlotte Wright, interim chief executive at HIE, said: “The universities sector is playing a vital and growing role in creating high quality education, research and career opportunities across the Highlands and Islands, particularly for young people.

“Today’s opening is a significant step for Glasgow School of Art, for Blairs Steading and for the region. These remarkable buildings form an ideal permanent location for the GSA’s growing presence in the north, where it is working in partnership with HIE to bring its internationally recognised expertise to the Highlands and Islands.

“As a productive world class research and teaching facility, the new creative campus will attract increasing numbers of students and deliver a range of social and economic benefits to the region.”